Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Goods That Give: The Doitung Project


I stumbled upon the Diotung Project while in Bangkok, Thailand.   They sell clothing, bags, scarves, coffee, teas sets, pottery and all done with modern designs.  They even launched a line of ready-to-wear high end fashion.  After reading their bio at the store I realized what an important  movement they are helping promote.  Dio Tung is a company funded by the United Nation's Office on Drugs and Crime in partnership with the Thai government and Royal Family.  Their mission is to create a drug free world through sustainable development that does not involve the production and growth of illegal substances.  In Thailand in the Dio Tung mountains, which are located in the Chiang Rai providence in the north, a main source of income is the farming of poppies.  These poppies are not your "garden variety" in the backyard, but rather used to make opium and thus have fueled the drug trade for centuries.  This foundation is a means of abolishing the drug activity, as well as the prostitution and poverty that goes along with it.
Here's the catch: while they have an active and updated website in English is does not look like they are currently selling their goods online (What!)  At this time the merchandise is sold at various locations in Thailand such as Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Bangkok.  Despite this major problem for everyone not in Thailand I still felt it worth sharing.  Go to the website to see how you can help and if you are ever in Thailand seek out Diotung!

   Diotung runway fashion
Doi-tung-fashion



Coffee Drinks at their shops 
Coffee Bean Slush forweb1


 Hill tribes collaborating with Diotung Project
dio tung




The adorable makeup bag I purchased at their store
diotung bag


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